Disc apparatus

ABSTRACT

A loader conveys a holder, carrying thereon a disc cartridge, between a cartridge ejection position and a reproducing/recording position. The loader has an engaging part which engages with a mechanical lock mechanism so as to release a holder pin in the mechanical lock mechanism from its locked condition in order to hold a movable chassis in a floating condition with respect to a stationary chassis and to lock the holding pin in the mechanical lock mechanism so as to fix the movable chassis to the stationary chassis when the holder has been moved to the cartridge ejecting side. When the holder is moved to the reproducing/recording position, the holding pin provided on the holder engages with a shutter closing spring so as to retract an engaging part at the front end of the shutter closing spring through an opening in the holder in order to prevent the disc cartridge from making contact with the shutter closing spring, thereby making it possible to give a satisfactory feeling of insertion of the disc cartridge and avoid damaging the disc cartridge. Further, a rack in a loader feed mechanism is composed of two rack members which are linked together so as to decrease the operating length for moving the loader.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a disc apparatus for reproducing andwriting data on a data recording disc in a photomagnetic recording typeminidisc cartridge.

2. Prior Art

In recent years, disc cartridges in which a data recording disc ishoused in a protecting cartridge (which will be hereinbelow denotedsimply as a cartridge have been proposed. A photomagnetic recording typeminidisc cartridge, as one example of this kind of cartridges, is shownin FIG. 11. In FIG. 11 cartridge 100 incorporates a cartridge casing101, a data recording disc 102 housed in the cartridge casing 101, adisc access hole 106 formed at one side of the cartridge casing 101, anda slide shutter 104 for opening and closing the disc access hole 106.Further, cartridge gripping recesses 105 are formed at the left andright sides on the front side of the rear surface of the cartridgecasing 101, and a longitudinal groove 106 is formed in the right endface of the cartridge casing 101 and receives a shutter engaging member(which is not shown) in its intermediate part. This shutter engagingmember is urged toward the groove 106 by a spring (which is not shown),that is, it can be retracted. Further, this shutter engaging member islinked to the above-mentioned slide shutter 104.

Further, data is recorded in or reproduced from this cartridge by meansof a disc apparatus in which an optical pick-up records or reproducesdata while it moves radially of the data recording disc 102 with apredetermined gap between the optical pick-up and the data recordingdisc 102, and accordingly, it is necessary to eliminate vibrationstransmitted from the outside. To this end a movable chassis (suspensionchassis) for holding the optical pick-up is supported in a floatingcondition on a stationary chassis by means of resilient members.Further, this movable chassis is normally fixed to the stationarychassis by means of a lock mechanism which does not belong to a loadingmechanism, except that the disc cartridge is set at a position otherthan a recording/reproducing position.

Further, in this disc apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13a-c, aholder 110 for loading and ejecting the cartridge 100 is provided with ashutter closing spring 112, as shown in FIG. 12, having an engaging part111 which is adapted to be engaged in a shutter opening and closing hole108 formed in the slide-shutter 104 so as to close the slide-shutter 104upon ejection of the disc cartridge 100.

Further, in this disc apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 13a to 13c, a loadershift mechanism has a rack member 120 on which a loader 109 is mounted,and a gear 122 meshed with a rack tooth part 121 of the rack member 120and coupled to a pinion of a drive motor through the intermediary of adrive gear train. Further, when the gear 122 is rotated through thedrive gear train, the rack member 120 which is meshed with the gear 122through the rack tooth part 121 thereof, is moved, and accordingly theloader 109 is shifted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, the above-mentioned conventional disc apparatus has adisadvantage, as a first problem, in which the lock mechanism is notmoved while being directly coupled with the loading mechanism, andaccordingly, the timing of the operation of the lock mechanism becomesout of phase so that movable chassis cannot be precisely positioned.

Thus, the present invention is devised in view of the first problem, andaccordingly, a first object of the present is to provide a discapparatus in which the lock mechanism can be moved while being directlycoupled with the loading mechanism so that the timing of the operationof the lock mechanism is prevented from being out of phase, therebymaking it possible to precisely position the movable chassis.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the presentinvention, there is provided a disc apparatus comprising a holder pinprovided on a movable chassis which is supported on a stationary chassisthrough the intermediary of resilient members and on which a turntableand an optical pick-up are mounted, a mechanical lock mechanism providedon the stationary chassis and adapted to releasably grip theabove-mentioned holder pin, for fixing the movable chassis to thestationary chassis, a holder movably provided on the movable chassis,for holding a disc cartridge therein so as to load and eject the disccartridge, a loader provided on the stationary chassis, for conveyingthe holder in a predetermined conveying direction, and pin actuatingmeans adapted to interfere with the mechanical lock mechanism at an endof loading operation of the disc cartridge, for causing the mechanicallock mechanism to release the holder pin, and adapted to interfere withthe mechanical lock mechanism at a start of ejecting operation of thedisc cartridge, for causing the mechanical lock mechanism to lock theholder pin.

With this arrangement, the pin actuating means incorporated in theloader interferes with the mechanical lock mechanism at an end of theloading operation so as to cause the mechanical lock mechanism torelease the holder pin from the locking condition, and further, the pinactuating means interferes with the mechanical lock mechanism at a startof the ejecting operation of the disc cartridge so as to cause themechanical lock mechanism to lock the holder pin. Accordingly, themechanical lock mechanism can be moved while being directly coupled withthe loading mechanism, and therefore, the movable chassis can beprecisely positioned without the timing of operation of the mechanismlock mechanism becoming out of phase.

Further, since the above-mentioned conventional disc apparatus hasanother a disadvantage, as a second problem, in which the engaging part111 at the front end of the shutter closing spring 112 is alwaysprojected in a cartridge insertion part 113 when the holder 110 islocated at a forward position (on the cartridge 100 insertion side), andaccordingly, the engaging part 111 of the shutter closing spring 112abuts against the disc cartridge 100 inserted into the cartridgeinsertion part 113. As a result, a problem of disagreeable feeling ofinsertion of the disc cartridge 100 and scratching on the disc cartridge100 have occurred.

The present invention is devised in view of this second problem, andaccordingly, a second object of the present invention is to provide adisc apparatus which can give satisfactory feeling of insertion of thedisc cartridge and which can avoid scratching on the cartridge due tocontact between the disc cartridge and the engaging part of the shutterclosing spring.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned second object, according to thepresent invention, there is provided a disc apparatus comprising aholder for receiving therein and for conveying a disc cartridge housinga data recording disc and incorporating a slide shutter, in apredetermined conveying direction, a shutter opener provided so as to bereciprocatable in the conveying direction, relative to the holder, alongone side of the holder, the holder and the shutter opener defining acartridge insertion part, a shutter closing spring having at its frontend an engaging part and secured to the shutter opener, an openingformed at a surface of the shutter opener on the cartridge insertionpart side, for allowing the engaging part of the shutter closing springto project into the cartridge insertion part, and an escape mechanismprovided in the holder, for retracting the engaging part of the shutterclosing spring from the cartridge insertion part through the openingwhen the holder is positioned on the cartridge insertion side.

Further, according to one specific form of the present invention, theescape mechanism includes a holding pin holding the shutter opener andadapted to interfere with the shutter closing spring when the holder ispositioned on the cartridge insertion side, for retracting the engagingpart of the shutter closing spring from the cartridge insertion partthrough the opening.

With this arrangement, when the holder is positioned on the cartridgeinsertion side, the engaging part at the front end of the shutterclosing spring is retracted from the cartridge insertion part throughthe opening by means of the escape mechanism. Further, when the holdermoves in the cartridge conveying direction, the escape mechanism becomesinoperative so that the engaging part of the shutter closing springprojects into the cartridge insertion part through the opening.

Thus, since the engaging part of the shutter closing spring is retractedfrom the cartridge insertion part through the opening when the holder ispositioned on the cartridge insertion side, the engaging part of theshutter closing spring is prevented from abutting against a disccartridge inserted into the cartridge insertion part, and accordingly,it is possible to give a satisfactory feeling of insertion, and further,to avoid scratching of the disc cartridge due to contact between thedisc cartridge and the engaging part of the shutter closing spring.

Next, the above-mentioned conventional disc apparatus has anotherdisadvantage, as a third problem, in which a space having a long lengthD as shown in FIG. 13c is required in order to shift the loader 109 by adistance L since the rack member 120 is a single integral component.

Further, an external force exerted to the rack member 109 or the loader120, is inevitably transmitted to the gear 122 through the drive geartrain, and accordingly, there has been a problem of occurrence of damageto the gear 122 or the like.

The present invention is also devised in view of the above-mentionedthird problem, and accordingly, a third object of the present inventionis to provide a disc apparatus which can decrease the space required forshifting the loader, and can also prevent gears in the drive part frombeing damaged.

In order to achieve the third object, according to the presentinvention, there is provided a disc apparatus comprising a stationarychassis, a first and a second rack member having a tooth part andprovided on the stationary chassis so as to be movable in a shiftingdirection of a loader, a guide pin provided on the first rack member, aguide hole formed in the second rack member, the guide pin beinginserted through the guide hole and coupled at its front end to theloader, spring retaining parts formed respectively on the first andsecond rack members, and a spring bridging between the spring retainingparts, a gear meshed with the tooth part of the second rack member, anda drive gear train engaged with the gear.

With this arrangement, when the gear is rotated by means of the geartrain, the second rack member having the tooth part meshed with the gearis moved in one of the shifting directions of the loader, the guide pinis pushed by one end part of the guide hole formed in the second rackmember so that the loader moved in the one of the loader shiftingdirections. In this case, the first rack member is moved in the one ofthe loader shifting direction in association with the shifting of theloader.

Further, when the gear comes to one end of the tooth part of the secondrack member, the gear is then meshed with the tooth part of the firstrack member. Further, when the gear leaves off the tooth part of thesecond rack member so that it is mentioned with only the tooth part ofthe first rack member, the first rack member is moved in one of theloader shifting directions. As a result, the loader is moved in one ofthe loader shifting directions by means of the guide pin.

Thus, when the gear is rotated, the second rack member is fed so as toshift the loader, and thereafter, only the first rack member is fed soas to move the loader without the second rack member being fed, andaccordingly, a necessary space for feeding the loader can be made to besmall in comparison with that of the conventional arrangement in whichthe loader is shifted by a single integral rack member.

Further, since the first and second rack members are coupled together bythe spring, if an external force is exerted to the first rack member orthe loader in a condition in which the gear is meshed with the secondrack member, the first rack member is moved, only causing an extensionof the spring, and accordingly, the external force can be prevented frombeing transmitted to the drive gear train through the gear, therebymaking it is possible to avoid damaging the gears or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an essential part of a discapparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the disc apparatus from whicha part of an upper stationary chassis is eliminated;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the disc apparatus;

FIG. 4a is a perspective view illustrating the disc apparatus in acartridge ejecting condition;

FIG. 4b is a perspective view illustrating the disc apparatus in acartridge loading condition;

FIG. 4c is a perspective view illustrating the disc apparatus justbefore the completion of cartridge loading;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a holder in the discapparatus:

FIG. 6a is a plan view illustrating the holder in a condition in which ashutter of a disc cartridge is opening;

FIG. 6b is a plan view illustrating the holder in a condition in whichthe shutter of a disc cartridge is half opened;

FIG. 6c is a plane view illustrating the holder in a condition in whichthe slide shutter of the disc cartridge is closed;

FIG. 6d is a view illustrating the holder as viewed in the direction Xin FIG. 6a;

FIG. 7a is a right side view illustrating an essential part of a discapparatus according to the present invention;

FIGS. 7b to 7d are side views showing steps of releasing a mechanicallock mechanism from a lock condition;

FIGS. 8a to 8e are views for explaining the steps of releasing themechanical lock mechanism from the lock condition;

FIG. 9a is a side view illustrating an essential part of a loadershifting mechanism of the disc apparatus;

FIGS. 9b and 9c are views for explaining first and second rack membersin the loader shifting mechanism;

FIGS. 10a to 10c are views illustrating principle operation of the firstand second rack members in the loader shifting mechanism;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a cartridge;

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating a holder in a conventional disccartridge; and

FIGS. 13a to 13c are views for explaining a loader shifting mechanism ina conventional disc apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a disc apparatus includes a main chassis 1 asa stationary chassis, a suspension chassis 2 as a movable chassis, andan upper chassis 3 as a stationary chassis. The above-mentioned chassis1 is a rectangular frame body having a front surface part 1a formedtherein a cut-out defining a cartridge insertion opening 4. Damperattachment parts 5 are provided at left, right and rear sides of themain chassis 1, and cut-out parts 26, 26a are formed in left and rightside parts 6a, 6b and a rear side part 6c of the main chassis 1 atpositions opposite to the damper attaching parts 5. Further, springretainers 7 are formed at four corner parts of the main chassis 1.Further, a double insertion preventing lever 13 is provided in thecartridge insertion opening 4, which is movable more or less in thevertical direction.

Further, a mechanical lock mechanism A is attached to each of the leftand right side parts 6a, 6b of the main chassis 1. The mechanical lockmechanism A has front and rear lock members 8, 9 which are formed attheir front parts with lock parts 10, 11 having guide parts 12converging toward their center locking recesses 10a, 11a, and avertically elongated hole 18 is formed in the rear lock member 9.

Further, the front and rear lock members 8, 9 are attached to horizontalguide holes 14, 15 formed in the right side part 6b by means of pins 16,17 so as to be movable back and forth. A lever 19 is rotatably attachedat its intermediate position to the right side part 6b of the mainchassis 1 by means of a fulcrum pin 20. The front end part of the lever19 is coupled to the rear end part of a connecting rod 21 by a pin 22.The front end part of the connecting rod 21 is coupled to the rear endpart of the above-mentioned lock member 8 by a pin 23. Further, a guidepin 24 is attached to the rear end part of the lever 19, and is insertedin the elongated hole 18 and the cut-out part 26 so as to be movabletherein. Further, an actuating pin 25 is attached to the front end partof the lever 19, projecting inward of the main chassis 1.

The above-mentioned suspension chassis 2 incorporates at its four cornerparts spring retainers 27, and springs 28 are provided bridging betweenthe these spring retainers 27 and spring retainers 7 of the main chassis1 so that the suspension chassis 2 is supported to the main chassis 1 ina floating condition. Further, dampers 28 are interposed between thesuspension chassis 2 and the main chassis 1. Damper bodies 29a of thesedampers 29 are fixed to the damper attaching parts 5 on the mainchassis 1. Further, lock pins 30, 31 are fixed at the front and rearparts of the left and right surface parts 2a, 2b of the suspensionchassis 2, the front lock pin 30 being located in the cut-out parts 26aand in front of the lock part 10 of the lock member 8 and the rear lockpin 31 being located in the cut-out part 26 and in rear of the lock part11 of the lock member 9. It is noted that this condition is a lockreleased condition.

A turntable (which is not shown) is located in the center part of thesuspension chassis 2. Further, an optical pick-up (which is not shown)is located in a stamped part (which is not shown) which is formed in thesuspension chassis 2 at a position right side of the turntable. Theoptical pick-up is moved right and left (radially of a disc) by means ofa screw feed mechanism. A mechanism including a drive motor for theturntable is provided on the rear side of the suspension chassis 2.

Holder guide parts 34, 35 are formed in the left and right surface parts2a, 2b of the suspension chassis, as shown in FIG. 4a. The left holderguide part 34 is composed of a linear guide hole 36 formed extendingbetween the front and rear parts of the left surface part 2a, and adescending hole 37 directed downward from the rear end part of the guidehole 36. Further, the right holder guide part 35 is composed of a linearguide hole 38 extending between the front and rear parts of the rightsurface part 2b, a descending guide hole 39 directed downward from anintermediate part of the guide hole 38, a descending guide hole 40directed downward from the rear end part of the guide hole 38, and aslide guide member 41 laid along the right surface part 2b and having aresiliency. Further, a stopper 60 which prevents the shutter opener 49from moving rearward, is located at the right side of the rear part ofthe suspension chassis 2.

A holder 43 is provided in the suspension chassis 2, being held by theholder guide parts in the left and right surface parts 2a, 2b so as tobe movable back and forth. That is, an inverted U-like cross-sectionalshape holding part 44 is formed in the left side part of the holder 43,as shown in FIG. 5, and the end face of the holding part 44 is definedby the left surface part 44a of the holder 43, and the right surfacepart 44b of the holder is bent at a right angle so as to form a rightsurface part 44b. Further, a holder pin 42 is attached to the front partof the left surface part 44a of the holder 43, and two holder pins 45a,45b are attached to the right surface part 44b thereof. Further,cartridge gripping hooks 46 are attached to the left and right parts ofthe rear surface of the holder 43 by means pins 47 so as to be swingableleft and right, at positions in the front part, and are urged toward thecenter of the holder 43 by means of springs 48. Left and right cartridgereceiving parts 63 are formed in the surface part of the holder 43.

A shutter opener 49 is attached to the left side part of the holder 43thus arranged, so as to be movable back and forth. That is, the shutteropener 49 has an upper surface part 49a adapted to slide at the leftside part of the holder 43, and an outside surface part 49b, and alongitudinal slide hole 50 is formed in the upper surface part 49a.Holding pins 51a, 51b which also serves as pins for releasing theshutter closing springs, are inserted in the slide hole 50, and hold theshutter opener 49.

An inside surface part 52 and a horizontal surface part 53 are formed,as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b, in the front part of the shutter opener 49,and an opening 54 is formed in the inside surface part 52. The front endparts of the inside surface part 52 and the horizontal surface part 53are opened to the outside, the inside surface part 52 and the horizontalsurface part 53 of the shutter opener 49, and the left holding part 44of the holder 43 defining an cartridge insertion part 58 in which anopening and closing door 59 is operably provided.

Further, a shutter locking and releasing pawl 55 is provided in theintermediate part of the shutter opener 55. Further, the base part 56aof the shutter closing spring 56 is fixed to the inside of the outsidesurface part 49b of the shutter opener 49, and the shutter closingspring 56 is bent inward, having its front end part is formed with anengaging part 56b which is curved in a V-like shape as seen in a planview. The engaging part 56b is projected into the cartridge insertionpart 58 through the opening 54. Further, a stopper 57 is formed in therear end part of the shutter opener 49, and the front holding pin 51aconstitutes an escape mechanism for retracting the engaging part 56b ofthe shutter closing spring 56 from the cartridge insertion part 58through the opening 54.

Further, the holder 43 attached thereto with the shutter opener 49 asmentioned above, is supported to the suspension chassis 2, the leftguide pin 42 being inserted movably in the guide hole 36 of the holderguide part 34 in the left surface part 2a of the suspension chassis 2,and the right front guide pin 45a being inserted movably in the guidehole 38 of the holder guide part 35 in the right surface part 2b of thesuspension chassis 2 while being made into slide contact with the lowersurface of the slide guide member 40, and the right rear guide pin 45bbeing inserted movably in the guide hole 38 of the holder guide part 35in the right surface part 2b of the suspension chassis 2 while beingmade into slide contact with the upper surface of the slide guide member40.

A loader guide 65 is longitudinally secured to the left side of the rearsurface of the upper surface part of the upper chassis 3, as shown inFIG. 3 and FIG. 9a, and a longitudinal guide hole 66 is formed in theloader guide 65. A crosswise guide hole 67 is formed in the rear part ofthe upper surface of the upper chassis 3.

A loader 68 and a loader shifting mechanism C for reciprocating theloader 68 are provided on the rear surface of the upper chassis 3. Theloader 68 incorporates, at the left and right sides of its surface part68a, left and right surface parts 70, 71 which are bent at right anglesto the surface part 68a, the right surface part 70 being formed at itsfront and rear ends with holder pin engaging parts 72, 73, and at itsintermediate position with a lock pin engaging part 74 as a pinactuating means. Further, the holder engaging parts 72, 73 have engagingpieces 72a, 73a which are projected forward. The left surface part 70 isformed at its front end with a holder pin engaging part similar to theholder pin engaging part 72, and is formed at its intermediate positionwith a lock pin engaging part similar to the lock pin engaging part 74.

The lock pin engaging part 74 has an engaging piece 74a which isprojected rearward from the lower edge of the right surface part 71 andobliquely downward, and a pin insertion recess 74b which is extendedupward from the lower edge of the right surface part 71.

A crosswise guide hole 68b is formed on the right side of the rear partof the upper surface part 68a of the loader 68. Further, the front endpart of a link 78 is attached to the left rear end part of the uppersurface part 68a of the loader 68 by a pin 79, as shown in FIG. 2. Aguide pin 80 provided in the rear end part of the link 78, is insertedin the guide hole 67 in the rear part of the upper chassis 3. Further, alink 81 is attached at its rear end to the right rear end part of theupper chassis 3, and is provided at its front end with a guide pin 83which is inserted in the guide hole 68b in the rear part of the loader68. The links 78, 81 are rotatably coupled together at their centercrossing parts by means of a pin 84.

The above-mentioned loader shift mechanism C incorporates a first rackmember 85 and a second rack member 86 which are laid along the loaderguide 65, the second rack member 86 being slidably superposed with therear end pat of the first rack member 85, and front and rear guide holes88, 89 are formed in a rise wall part 87 of the second rack member 86,as shown in FIGS. 9a to 10. Further, guide pins 91, 92 are fixed to thefront and rear end parts of a rise wall part 90 of the first rack member85, the front guide pin 91 piercing through the guide hole 88, and therear guide pin 92 piercing through the guide hole 89. The end parts ofthe guide pins 91, 92 are coupled to the right surface part 71 of theloader 68.

Further, a spring retainer 93 is formed in the rear end part of thefirst rack member 85, and a spring retainer 94 is formed in the frontend part of the second rack member 86, and a spring 95 is providedbridging between both spring retainers 93, 94.

Further, a gear 96 is meshed with a tooth part 86a of the second rackmember 86, and is engaged with a drive motor (which is not shown)through the intermediary of a pinion gear train (which is not shown).

The thus constructed upper chassis 3 is superposed with the main chassis1 and is secured to the latter. In this case, the front and rear holderpin engaging parts 72, 73 provided on the right side of the loader 68are slidably engaged with the holder pins 45a, 45b, and the holder pinengaging part 72 provided on the left side of the loader 68 is slidablyengaged with the holder pin 42. Further, the front edge of the upperchassis 3 and the cartridge insertion part 4 of the main chassis 1defines an cartridge insertion opening 98.

Before insertion of the above-mentioned cartridge (which is the same asthat mentioned in the explanation to the prior art) 100, the suspensionchassis 2 is locked to the main chassis 1 by means of the left and rightmechanical lock mechanisms A. That is, after the front lock member 8 inthe mechanical lock mechanism A is moved forward, the lock part 10 atthe front end of the lock member 9 grips the front lock pin 30 on thesuspension chassis 2, and the lock part 11 at the front end of the lockmember grips the rear lock pin 31 on the suspension chassis 2.

Next, explanation will be made of the operation of the disc apparatusconstructed as mentioned above.

As shown in FIG. 6c, when the holder 43 is positioned on the cartridgeinsertion opening 98 side, the holding pin 51a also serving as theshutter closing spring releasing pin on the holder 43 is positioned inthe front side so as to interfere with the intermediate part of theshutter closing spring 56, and accordingly, the engaging part at thefront end of the shutter closing spring 56 is retracted from the openingpart 54. Accordingly, when the cartridge 100 is inserted into thecartridge insertion part 58 in the holder 43 through the cartridgeinsertion opening 98, the engaging part 56b of the shutter closingspring 56 does not interfere with the cartridge 100, and accordingly,the feeling of insertion of the cartridge 100 becomes satisfactory, andfurther, the cartridge 100 is prevented from being scratched due tocontact between itself and the engaging part 56b of the shutter closingspring 56.

Further, after the cartridge 100 is inserted into the cartridgeinsertion part 58 of the holder 43 through the cartridge insertionopening 98, when the front end face of the cartridge 100 abuts againstthe cartridge receiving part 63 of the holder 43, the shutter lockingand engaging pawl 55 of the shutter opener 49 is inserted into thegroove 106 of the cartridge 100, and further, the left and rightcartridge gripping hooks 46 of the holder 43 are engaged with the leftand right cartridge gripping recesses 105 of the cartridge casing 101 sothat the cartridge 100 is held in the holder 43 through the intermediaryof the cartridge gripping hooks 46.

Further, when the above-mentioned cartridge 100 is pushed in, a controlcircuit (which is not shown) for the drive motor in the loader shiftingmechanism C is energized (turned on) so that the loader 68 is operatedby the loader shifting mechanism C. Accordingly, the slide shutter ofthe cartridge 100 is opened, and the suspension chassis 2 is releasedfrom its locked condition while the cartridge 100 is automaticallyintroduced.

Loader Operation

When the pinion is rotated by the drive motor, the gear 96 is rotatedthrough the intermediary of the gear train, and accordingly, the secondrack member 86 meshed with the gear 96 through the intermediary of thetooth part 86a is moved rearward. Thus, the guide pins 91, 92 are pushedby the front end parts of the guide holes 88, 89 formed in the secondrack member 86, and accordingly, the loader 68 is moved rearward. Inthis case, in association with the movement of the loader 68, the rackmember 85 is moved rearward. When the gear 96 comes to the front end ofthe tooth part 86a of the second rack member 86, the gear is meshed withthe rear end part of the tooth part 85a of the first rack member 85.Further, when the gear 96 leaves off from the tooth part 86a of thesecond rack member 86, it meshes with only the tooth part 85a of thefirst rack member 85 which is therefore moved rearward. This movementcauses the loader 68 to move rearward by means of the guide pins 91, 92.Further, the rearward movement of the first rack member 85 causes thesecond rack member 86 to move rearward through the intermediary of thespring 95.

Release Operation of Slide Shutter 104 in Cartridge 100

Since the front and rear holder engaging parts 72, 73 which are providedon the right side of the loader 68 are slidably engaged with the holderpins 45a, 45b, and further, since the holder pin engaging part 72 whichis provided on the left side of the loader 68 is slidably engaged withthe holder pin 42, the rearward movement of the loader 68 causes theholder 43 to move rearward, that is, the cartridge 100 is movedrearward.

Accordingly, the holder 43 is retracted so that the holding pin 51acomes off from the intermediate part of the shutter closing spring 56.Thus, the engaging part 56b at the front end of the shutter closingspring 56 is projected into the cartridge insertion part 58 through theopening 54. In this case, the stopper 57 at the rear end part of theshutter opener 49 makes contact with the stopper 60 provided on thesuspension chassis 2, and accordingly, the shutter opener 49 isprevented from being rearward moved.

The shutter locking and releasing pawl 55 of the shutter opener 49pushes the shutter engaging member in the cartridge 100 so as to retractthe same, and accordingly, the engagement of the slide shutter 104 withthe shutter engaging member of the engaging pawl 107 is released. Atthis time, the engaging part 56b at the front end of the shutter closingspring 56 is engaged in the shutter opening and closing hole 108 in theslide shutter 104. Thus, the slide shutter 104 is opened as thecartridge 100 is moved rearward (Refer to FIGS. 6b to 6c).

Locking Operation of Suspension Chassis 2

When the holder 43 is moved rearward as the loader 68 is moved rearward,the locking engaging piece 74a of the lock pin engaging part 74 on theloader 68 is engaged with the actuating pin 25 of the lever 19 in themechanical lock mechanism A as shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b, and FIGS. 8a,and 8b. Accordingly, the actuating pin 25 is guided upward so that thelever 19 is rotated clockwise as shown in FIGS. 7c and 8d, and the frontand rear lock members 8, 9 are therefore pulled inward. Thus, as shownin FIG. 8e, the front lock pin 30 on the suspension chassis 2 isreleased from the front lock part 10 of the lock member 8, and the rearlock pin 31 on the suspension chassis 2 is released from the lock part10 at the front end of the lock member 8, and accordingly, thesuspension chassis 2 is released from its locked condition. As a result,the suspension chassis 2 is supported by the springs at the four cornerparts thereof.

Automatic Introduction of Cartridge 100

When the holder 43 is further moved rearward, the above-mentioned holderpins 42, 45a, 45a are led into the descending holes 37, 39, 40 in theleft and right holder guide parts 34, 35 in the suspension chassis 2,being guided by the left and right holder guide pats 34. 35, and the hubof the turntable is engaged into a center (which is not shown) which isvisible through a center hole formed in the lower surface of thecartridge 100. At this time, the holder pins 42, 45a, 45b come off fromthe holder pin engaging parts 72, 73, but the engaging pieces 72a, 73 donot come off from the holder pins 42, 45a, 45b.

In this condition, a control circuit (which is not shown) for the drivemotor of the turntable is energized (turned on), and a control circuit(which is not shown) for the drive motor of the optical pick-up, isenergized (turned on) so that the data recording disc 102 is rotatedwhile the optical pick-up is moved left and right (radially of the disc)by means of the screw feed mechanism for reproducing or recording.

Next, after completion of the reproducing or the recording, the loader68 is moved in the reverse direction so that the cartridge 100 isejected, and the suspension chassis 2 is locked.

Reverse Movement of Loader 68

When the drive motor is reversed so as to reversely rotate the pinion,the gear 96 is reversely rotated through the intermediary of the geartrain, and the first rack member 85 meshed with the gear 96 through theintermediary of the tooth part 85a is moved forward so that the loader68 is moved forward by means of the guide pins 91, 92. When the gear 96comes to the rear end of the tooth part 85a of the first rack member 85,the gear 96 is meshed with the tooth part 86a of the second rack member85 which is therefore moved forward. The guide pins 91, 92 are pushed bythe rear ends of the guide holes 88, 89 formed in the second rack member86, and accordingly, the loader 68 is moved forward.

Ejecting Operation of Cartridge 100

When the loader 68 is moved forward, the engaging pieces 72a, 73a of thefront and rear holder pin engaging parts 72, 73 provided on the loader68 push the holder pins 45a, 45b, 42 forward so that the holder 43 ismoved forward, and accordingly, the cartridge 100 is moved forward. Asthe holder 43 is moved forward, the holder pins 43, 45a, 45b arereturned into the linear guide holes 36, 38 from the descending holes37, 39, 40, being guided by the left and right holder guide parts 34, 35in the suspension chassis 2, and accordingly, the center of thecartridge 100 leaves off from the turntable, and is moved forward beingguided by the left and right holder guide parts 34, 35. Thus, thecartridge is ejected from the cartridge insertion part 99 of the holder43 toward the cartridge insertion opening 98.

Closing Operation of Slide Shutter 104 in Cartridge 100

Upon ejection of the cartridge 100, since the engaging part 56b at thefront end part of the shutter closing spring 56 is engaged with theshutter opening and closing hole 108, the slide shutter 104 is closed asthe holder 43 is moved forward. Further, the shutter locking andreleasing pawl 55 of the shutter opener 49 is disengaged from theshutter engaging member in the cartridge 100 and is projected, andaccordingly, the locking pawl 107 of the slide shutter 104 is engagedwith the shutter engaging member. Further, the engaging part 56b at thefront end of the shutter closing spring 56 comes off from the shutteropening and closing hole 108.

Lock Operation of the Suspension Chassis 2

Upon ejection of the cartridge 100, when the loader 68 is moved forward,the pin insertion recess 47b of the lock pin engaging part 74 on theloader 68 pushes, at its side surface, the actuating pin 25 on the lever19 forward so as to depress the actuating pin 25, and accordingly, thelever 19 is rotated counterclockwise with the sequence in the order asshown in FIGS. 8e, 8d, 8c, 8b and 8a, so as to force the front and rearlock members 8, 9 into opening outward. Accordingly, the lock part 10 atthe front end of the front lock member 8 fixes the front lock pin 30 onthe suspension chassis 2, and the lock part 11 at the front end of therear lock member 9 fixes the rear lock pin 31 on the suspension chassis2.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the loader 68 is moved in theconveying direction so as to move the cartridge 100 through theintermediary of the holder 43, and when the cartridge 100 comes to thereproducing/recording position, the lock pin engaging part 74incorporated to the loader 68 interferes with the mechanical lockmechanism A which therefore releases the holder pins 30, 31 from thelocked condition. Further, when the cartridge 100 is moved in theejecting direction through the intermediary of the holder 43 duringmovement of the loader 68, the lock pin engaging part 74 interferes withthe mechanical lock mechanism A which therefore locks the holder pins30, 31.

Thus, since the mechanical lock mechanism A is moved being directlycoupled to the loading mechanism, the timing of operation of themechanical lock mechanism is prevented from being out of phase so thatthe suspension chassis can precisely be positioned.

As mentioned above, according to the present invention, the holder pinis provided on the movable chassis which is supported to the stationarychassis through the intermediary of the resilient members and on whichthe turntable and the pick-up head are mounted, the mechanical lockmechanism adapted to releasably grip the holder pin so as to fix themovable chassis to the stationary chassis is provided on the stationarychassis, the holder for holding the cartridge so as to load and ejectthe cartridge thereon is movable provided on the movable chassis, theloader for conveying the holder in a predetermined direction is providedon the stationary chassis, and the pin actuating means which interfereswith the mechanical lock mechanism at an end of the loading operation ofthe cartridge so as to cause the mechanical lock mechanism to releasethe holder pin from its locked condition, and which interferes with themechanical lock mechanism at a start of the ejecting operation of thecartridge so as to cause the mechanical lock mechanism to lock theholder pin is provided on the loader. With this arrangement, at an endof loading operation of the cartridge, the pin actuating meansincorporated on the loader interferes with the mechanical lock mechanismso that the mechanical lock mechanism can release the holder pin fromits locked condition, and further, at a start of ejecting operation ofthe cartridge, the pin actuating means interferes with the mechanicallock mechanism so that the mechanical lock mechanism can lock the holderpin. Since the mechanism lock mechanism is moved being directly lockedto the loading mechanism, the movable chassis can be preciselypositioned without the timing of operation of the mechanical lockmechanism becoming out of phase.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, since the shutter opener 49on the holder 43 is held by the holding pin 51a which interferes withthe shutter closing spring 56 so as to retract the engaging part 56bfrom the cartridge insertion part 58 through the opening 54 when theholder is positioned forward, the holder pin 51a on the holder 43 ispositioned forward so as to interfere with the shutter closing spring56, and accordingly, the engaging part 56b of the shutter closing spring56 can be retracted from the cartridge insertion part through theopening 54 when the holder 43 is positioned forward. Further, the holderpin 51a comes off the shutter closing spring 56 when the holder is movedrearward, and accordingly, the engaging part 56b of the shutter closingspring 56 is projected into the cartridge insertion part 58 through theopening 54.

Thus, when the above-mentioned holder is positioned forward, theengaging part 56b at the front end of the shutter closing spring 56 isretracted from the cartridge insertion part 58 from the opening, andaccordingly, the cartridge 100 inserted into the cartridge insertionpart 58 is prevented from abutting against the engaging part 56b of theshutter closing spring 56 so that the feeling of insertion becomessatisfactory, and the cartridge 100 is prevented from being scratcheddue to contact between itself and the engaging part 56b.

As mentioned above, according to the present invention, the shutteropener is provided at one side of the holder for conveying the cartridgeincorporating the data recording disc and the slide shutter in apredetermined conveying direction, so as to be reciprocatable in theconveying direction, relative to the holder, the holder and the shutteropener defining the cartridge insertion part, the shutter closing springhaving at its one end the engaging part is secured to the shutteropener, the opening through which the engaging part of the shutterclosing spring is projected into the cartridge insertion part is formedin the cartridge insertion part side surface of the shutter opener, andthe escape mechanism which retracts the engaging part of the shutterclosing spring from the cartridge insertion part through the openingwhen the holder is located on the cartridge introducing position isprovided in the holder. With this arrangement, when the holder islocated on the cartridge introducing side, the escape mechanism canretract the engaging part of the shutter closing spring from thecartridge insertion part through the opening. Further, when the holderis moved in the conveying direction, the escape mechanism becomesinoperative so that the engaging part of the shutter closing spring isprojected into the cartridge insertion part through the opening.

Thus, when the holder is positioned on the cartridge introduction side,the engaging part at the front end of the shutter closing spring isretracted from the cartridge insertion part through the opening, andaccordingly, the cartridge inserted in the cartridge insertion part isprevented from abutting against the engaging part of the shutter closingspring so that the feeling of insertion becomes satisfactory, and thecartridge is prevented from being scratched due to contact betweenitself and the engaging part.

Further, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, when the gear 96is rotated through the intermediary of the gear train, the second rackmember 86 meshed with the gear 96 through the intermediary of the toothpart 86a is moved rearward, and the guide pins 91, 92 are pushed by theends of the guide holes 88, 89 formed in the second rack member 86 sothat the loader 68 is moved rearward. In this case, the first rackmember 85 is moved rearward in association with the movement of theloader 68 (Refer to FIGS. 10a and 10b).

When the gear 96 comes to one end part of the tooth part 86a of thesecond rack member 86, the gear 96 is meshed with the tooth part 85a ofthe first rack member 85. Further, when the gear 96 leaves off from thetooth part 86a of the second rack member 86, it is only meshed with thetooth part 85a of the first rack member 85 which is therefore movedrearward. This movement causes the guide pins 91, 92 to move the loader68 rearward (Refer to FIGS. 10b and 10c).

Thus, the gear 96 on rotation feeds the second rack member 86 whichtherefore moves the loader 68, and thereafter, the gear 96 does not feedthe second rack member 86 but do the first rack member 85 so as to movethe loader 86. With this arrangement, the required space for moving theloader 68 by the distance L can be made to be small by the length C ofthe second rack member 86, in comparison with the conventional apparatusin which the loader is fed by a single integral rack member by a lengthD (Refer to FIG. 10c).

Further, since the first and second rack members 85, 86 are coupledtogether by the spring 95, when an external force is exerted to thefirst rack member 85 or the loader 68 in a condition in which the gear96 is meshed with the second rack member 86, the first rack member 85 ismoved, causing only the spring 96 from being extended. That is, theexternal force is not transmitted to the drive gear train through thegear 96, thereby it is possible to prevent the gear 96 or the like frombeing damaged.

As mentioned above, according to the present invention, the first andsecond rack members are provided on the stationary chassis so as to bemovable in the direction of movement of the loader, and the guide pinsare provided to the first rack member while the guide holes are formedin the second rack member, the guide pins piercing through the guideholes and being coupled at their ends with the loader, spring retainersare provided on both rack members, the spring is provided bridgingbetween both spring retainers, and the gear is meshed with the toothpart of the second rack member and is coupled to the drive gear train.With this arrangement, when the gear is rotated through the intermediaryof the drive gear train, the second rack member meshed with the gearthrough the intermediary of its tooth part is moved in one of thedirections of movement of the loader, and the guide pins are pushed bythe ends of the guide holes formed in the second rack member so as tomove the loader in the one of the directions of movement of the loader.In this case, the first rack member is moved in the one of thedirections of movement of the loader.

When the gear comes to one end of the tooth part of the second rackmember, the gear is meshed with the tooth part of the first rack member.Further, when the gear leaves off from the tooth part of the second rackmember, the gear is meshed with only the tooth part of the first rackmember so sa to move the first rack member in the one of the directionsof movement of the loader. This movement causes the guide pins to movethe loader in the one of the directions of movement of the loader.

Thus, when the gear is rotated, the second rack member is fed to movethe loader, and thereafter, the second rack member is not fed but thefirst rack member is fed so that the loader is moved. Accordingly, therequire space can be made to be small in comparison with theconventional apparatus in which the loader is fed by a single integralrack member.

Further, since first and second racks are coupled together by means ofthe spring, if an external force is exerted to the first rack member orthe loader in a condition in which the gear is meshed with the secondrack member, the first rack member is moved, only causing the spring tobe extended. Accordingly, the external force is not transmitted to thedrive gear train through the gear, thereby it is possible to prevent thegears or the like from being damaged.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disc apparatus comprising:a stationary chassis;a movable chassis supported to said stationary chassis by means ofresilient means; a lock pin provided on said movable chassis; a holderprovided movably on said movable chassis, for holding a disc cartridgethereon and for loading and ejecting said disc cartridge; a loaderprovided on the stationary chassis, for conveying said holder in apredetermined conveying direction to move said disc cartridge in aloading direction and in an ejecting direction, said loader having anengaging groove formed therein; a lever provided on said stationarychassis, said lever being engaged in said engaging grove, when saidloader moves in said conveying direction, so as to be rotated relativeto said stationary chassis; a lock member provided on said stationarychassis and engaged with said lever so as to move in said conveyingdirection in association with rotation of said lever; and a pinactuating means provided on said loader for (i) engaging with said lockpin so as to lock said movable chassis to said stationary chassis whensaid lock member moves in said loading direction and (ii) disengagingfrom said lock pin so as to release said movable chassis from saidstationary chassis when said lock member moves in said ejectingdirection.
 2. A disc apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein in saidoperations (i) and (ii), said pin actuating means engages and disengageswith said lock pin through an intermediary member comprising said lockmember.